Tag Archives: bike share

Thursday: Overcast. High of 70. Winds from the SE at 10 to 15 mph. Thursday night: Overcast with rain showers. Low of 64. Winds from the SE at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

EVENT OF THE DAY: Comedian Adam Sank

Widely recognized for his appearances on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, comedian Adam Sank headlines a Pride Month celebration at LIC’s Laughing Devil Comedy Club on Thursday, June 6. Expect his trademark self-deprecation, including dating stories, the truth about Elmo and the latest on his “Mother From Hell.” Click here for more info or to submit an event of your own

NYPD officer kills wife, self in St. Albans

A Queens cop shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself in an alleged murder-suicide Wednesday night, according to published reports and police. Read more: The Queens Courier

Parents up in arms after mold found in at P.S./M.S. 114 in Rockaway

Parents at a Sandy-battered school in the Rockaways were up in arms after learning mold was discovered in a building that city officials had assured them was safe. Read more: New York Daily News

NYC claims bike-share program had 100,000 rides in first 10 days of operation

New York City residents and tourists have already taken 100,000 rides just 10 days since the country’s largest bike-sharing program’s launch. Read more: CBS New York/AP

Panel: LIPA as we know it has got to go

Following the disastrous response to Hurricane Sandy, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he wants to do away with the current Long Island Power Authority and have the utility run by New Jersey’s PSE&G. Read more: CBS New York

Administration defends collecting phone records

The White House on Thursday defended the National Security Agency’s need to collect telephone records of U.S. citizens, calling such information “a critical tool in protecting the nation from terrorist threats.” Read more: AP

Monday: Clear. High of 75. Winds from the West at 5 to 15 mph. Monday night: Clear. Low of 57. Winds from the SW at 5 to 15 mph shifting to the NE after midnight.

New York beaches open on Memorial Day despite Hurricane Sandy scars

Not all the repairs are finished, not all the sand is replaced and not every nearby business has recovered. Read more: ABC New York/AP

New York City launches nation’s largest bike share

New York City’s long-awaited and much-hyped bicycle-sharing program is finally set to begin. Read more: ABC New York

Suspect in Queens man’s kidnapping: “I made a mistake”

A man charged in the brazen abduction and brutal captivity of a Queens businessman says he “made a mistake” but he’s “not acriminal.” Read more: NBC New York

Poll: New Yorkers want more surveillance cameras

The NYPD’s eyes in the sky may be unpopular with some civil rights groups, but a recent poll found New Yorkers overwhelmingly would like to see an expansion of the number of surveillance cameras. Read more: CBS New York

City set to collect $550 million in parking tickets this year: Report

Parking tickets may be the bane of New Yorkers’ existence, but for companies with large delivery fleets, the fines are just the cost of doing business. Read more: New York Daily News

NY officials urge preparation for hurricane season

State officials are urging New York residents to prepare for hurricane season. Read more: NBC New York

The city’s previously stalled bike share program is again slamming on the breaks after Sandy.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and bike share operator New York City Bike Share (NYCBS) announced that its hotly-anticipated Citi Bike will be postponed for a second time to May of 2013 because of damage incurred by the Superstorm.

Sandy’s surge flooded NYCBS’s facility located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which sits along the East River and housed roughly two-thirds of the system’s equipment. According to the DOT, while portions of the equipment were not significantly damaged, including bike frames and hardware, several integral electrical components require repairs or replacing.

“DOT has worked around the clock to restore vital transportation links following the storm and that includes putting Citi Bike on the road to recovery,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “Despite the damage, New York will have the nation’s largest bike share system up and running this spring.”

The initiative was originally supposed to unveil 7,000 bicycles in March of 2013 after being delayed from the fall because of faulty equipment. The DOT said they intend to increase the number of bikes in the program to 10,000 eventually, but do not presently have a timeline on when that will occur.

According to the DOT, 5,500 bikes will be implemented at 293 stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Long Island City – initially slated to receive bikes in the first phase of the program – will not be included in the May 2013 debut. Western Queens cyclists can expect to see the shiny cobalt cruisers on their blocks sometime towards the end of 2013.

Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who has long been in support of the bike share program, said the delay is a major disappointment. Regardless of Long Island City’s exclusion from phase one, the councilmember said he would continue to advocate for the active neighborhood to increase its ability to be sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“I understand the Department of Transportation is doing its best to get the nation’s largest bike share program up and running but leaving Western Queens out of the mix does not seem logical when so many residents here rely on alternate transportation options,” said Van Bramer.

Initially, 10 docking stations were expected to be placed strategically to provide riders access to premier locations in LIC, including waterfront parks, the business district and LaGuardia Community College.

The delay will not impact the program’s $41 million price tag, funded privately by Citi.

A month after the mayor announced a delay in the city’s new bike share program, another postponement will push the roll out back to next spring.

Originally planned for a late July, early August launch, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today on his weekly radio show with John Gambling the target date for the Citi Bike program is now March.

“Unfortunately there are software issues,” Bloomberg said. “Until it works we’re not going to put it out.”

Software problems were also responsible for the original delay.

“While we are eager for Citi Bike to begin, it’s more crucial that this ground-breaking transit system be launched correctly, not quickly,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.

Manufacturing and testing continue on the necessary software to operate the system, the DOT said.

Seven thousand bikes are planned at 420 stations throughout the five boroughs when the program finally commences. Riders will be able to rent bikes short term for a small fee or with a $95 annual membership. In Queens, there will be 10 stations in Long Island City with the other stations scattered throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“While the delay may have been caused by poor planning and software problems, the city should take this opportunity to address the remaining safety issues associated with the plan in order to lower the number of accidents and fatalities that may result from the Bike Share program,”said a spokesperson for Comptroller John Liu.

In June, the comptroller released a report endorsing safety-enhancing efforts to avoid accidents and lawsuits.

Citi’s $41 million sponsorship of the program will not be affected by the delay, the mayor said.

In a recent Quinnipiac poll 74 percent of voters thought the bike share program was a good idea.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer announced on May 11 that “Citi Bike,” New York’s bicycle share program, will add 10 stations in Long Island City – building upon the locations currently planned in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“Citi Bike,” which is the nation’s largest public bike share system with 600 docking stations and 10,000 bikes, will provide a new, eco-friendly mode of transportation for residents. The program – sponsored by Citi – will launch in July of 2012 and will be operated by Alta Bicycle Share, which will split any profits with the city.

“[This] is a big victory – one that will improve life in L.I.C. in a number of ways,” Van Bramer said. “Cycling is healthy, it’s great exercise and it brings people together in a number of ways. It allows families to explore the neighborhood in ways that maybe they hadn’t before. It’s going to bring a lot of people to the neighborhood. It’s going to bring people to our cultural institutions. It’s going to bring people to our restaurants and small businesses. People will be able to come from all over the city with their bikes and park them in these docking stations and explore what we have to offer, which is a great deal.”

According to Van Bramer, the 10 docking stations have been strategically placed to provide riders access to premier locations in L.I.C., including waterfront parks, the business district and LaGuardia Community College. The councilmember also expressed hope that the bike share program will expand to other parts of Queens in Phase 2 of its launch.

“I expect it to be successful and hope it will be well utilized and future expansions will take it to more and more neighborhoods in Queens, bringing all of the benefits beyond L.I.C.,” he said.

Every bike in the network will be equipped with a bell and both front and rear lights, as well as an inscribed safety message encouraging helmet use and cautioning riders to yield to pedestrians, avoid riding on sidewalks, ride with traffic and obey all traffic lights and signs.

The docking stations are solar-powered and wireless and can accommodate between 15 and 60 bikes. They will be located on sidewalks, curbside road space, plazas and other locations suggested through a community process. A community forum on the bike share will be hosted by Van Bramer, Community Board 2 and the DOT on May 21, allowing residents to learn more about the program.

“I’m extremely proud to release this plan for the Citi Bike network,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “New Yorkers created this plan during the past six months, contributing time and expertise in workshops, on-line and in dozens of meetings to discuss and plan the city’s newest transportation system.”